Valve control for gas burners



June l5, 1937. Y J. A. BYRs ET Al. 2,083,985

VALVE CONTROL FOR GAS. BURNERS Filed Feb. 4, 193s Patented June 15, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE VALVE CONTROL FOB GAS BURNEBS Appucaaon February 4, 1935, serial No. 4,164

8 Claims. This invention relates primarily to gas burning steam radiators, although in some of its broadest aspects it may be suitable for gas burners used in other connections. It has long been theprarctice in radiators of the type described to provide a gas burner below a body of water enclosed within a radiator and to control the supply of gas to said burner by means of a diaphragm controlled by the pressure ofsteam within the radiator, said 13 diaphragm operating against a port in a'valve block, a small by-pass being provided to prevent the flame at the burner from being completely extinguished'upon closing of the port by the diaphragm when there is a predetermined rise in pressure in the radiator.

Although this arrangement was very satisfactory for the most part, some improvement therein is desired for giving greater satisfaction during the season when the weather is quite changeable A.) between comfortable temperatures and temperatures when substantial heat is needed. In such weather it is somewhat undesirable to keep the whole burner burning because the radiator gives olf too much heat, and if the gas iiow is reduced to the desired volume, suitable for mild weather, by means of a manuallycontrolled gas cock, the small amount of gas is divided between a large number of jets, there isdanger that upon a temporary drop in pressure, the .m flames, or some of them, will go out. I'he desirability of overcoming this Adiiliculty has been recognized for some time, but the necessity of overcoming this in a manner which did not introduce additional dangers, and which was com- 1.) mercially feasible has heretofore prevented satisfactory solution of the problem. 'The possibility by conning the gas supply to a few jets to act as a pilot ame when there is no desire for substantial heat, may have been recognized, but

practical and satisfactory means for accomplishing this result have not been known.

Inthe illustrated form, the invention includes two burner parts, preferably a single burner divided by an internal partition, and a manually opened valve for connecting the gas supply either to both the said burners or to one of said burners, or for cutting off the gas supply, said valve automatically closing 'except when the latch is made operative by a thermostatic member heated by the burner flame. The latch, and the tendency of the valve to close itself incidentally prevent the valve from being left in a position which partially opens a gas supply port, thereby avoiding the dangers which are inherent in an inadequate supply of gas. There is also illustrated a conventional form of steam pressure controlled diaphragm, which, however, cooperates with the valve already described to maintain a given pressure of steam when both burners are used.

With these and various other objects in view, 5'

.the invention may consist of certain novel features of construction and operation, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the specification, drawing and claims appended hereto.

In the drawing, which illustrates an embodiment of the device, and wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts- Figure 1 is an elevational view of the invention;

Figure 2 is a. vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along a broken line 3 3 of Figure 1, but with the valve turned to open position;

` Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Figure 2; and

Figures 5, 6, and 7 are vertical sectional views taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Figure 3 but showing the valve disk in three successive 25 positions.

Although our invention may take many forms, only one has been chosen for illustration. According to this form any conventional radiator I0 suitable for use as a gas red radiator may 30 be used. It includes a water and steam chamber I2 and a combustion chamber I4. Within the combustionchamber I4 is located a burner which is divided as by a partition I8 into a main burner section I6to the right thereof, as seen in 35 Figures 2 and 4, and an auxiliaryor pilot burner section Il to the left thereof, as seen in said v.figures Of course for some aspects of this invention two separate burners may be used instead of one divided burner. Likewise, instead of hav- 40 ing a pilot section of the type shown, there may be a more ordinary pilot burner. The pilot section is preferred, however, because it is more eilicient in providing a small amount of heat such as is usually desired when any pilot name at al1 45 1s necessary.

The main burner section is supplied with gas through the mixing pipe 2l) and main burner supply pipe 22 between which there is the usual air admixture valve 24. Gas is supplied to the 50 pilot section through the pilot supply pipe 26, preferably-passing through an air admixture valve 28. 'I'he air admixture valves 24 and 28 may be of any desired type or types, being illustrated diagrammatically only. 'lhe main burner pipe 55 c on the flat face of the valve block 30.

' shown by the dotted lines in Figure 7. 'I'he valve 22 and the pilot supply pipe 26 both communicate with a valve block 3,0 as does a main feeder pipe 32 which communicates with a gas supply system in any desired manner. As is seen best in Figure 3, the main feeder pipe 32 communicates with the passage 34 in the valve block 30 which passage opens onto the flat face of the block 30, this opening being called a valve port. The pilot supply pipe 26 communicates in a similar manner with av -part of the passages 36 and 38' may be called l delivery ports. Operating in the valve block 38 and passing therethrough is a valve shaft 40 at one end of which is secured as shown, a valve disk 42 which has a fiat face engaging and operating The valve disk 42 is pressed into snug contact with the valve block 36 by a spring 44 which bears at one end against the valve block and at the other end against a nut 46 threaded or otherwise rigidly secured on the shaft 46. Also secured to the outer end Vof the shaft 40 is a handle 48 which for reasons described hereinafter, is preferably pivoted to the shaft 4U as by a pin 56.

The Valve disk 42 is preferably provided with two elongated openings 52 and 54, the shapes of which on the contact face of the disk are best disk has three operative positions to'which it is restricted by means described below.v The full on position is illustrated in Figure 5,`in which it is seen that the opening 54 is aligned with the passage 34, and the opening 52 is aligned with both the passages 38 and 36. Thus gas can flow from the feeder pipe 32 through the feeder passage 34, through the opening 54 in the valve disk 42,v back through the opening 52 in valve disk 42, and'out through passages 36 and 36; the gas flowing through passage 38 continuing through the main burner supply pipe 22 to the main burner section I6, andthe gas flowing through the passage 36 continuing through the pilot supply pipe 26 to the pilot burner section l1.

The second position of the valve disk 42 is illustrated in Figure 6, from which it is seen that the c opening 52 in the valve disk has moved away from 'the passage 38 so that that passage is now closed by the valve disk. The opening 52 however remains i'n alignment with the passage 36 and therefore the passage to the pilot burner section remains open. Also the opening 54 remains in partial alignment with the passage 34 so that the supply of gas is continued. Since only a small amount of gas is used in this position, the portion of the opening 54 which in this position'is aligned with the passage34 may be of reduced size, as shown. Likewise, the portion of the opening 52 which is aligned with the passage 36 in Figure 5 may be reduced in size, as shown, since its capacity need be no greater than that of passage 36. In Figure '7 it is seen that neither the opening 52 nor the opening 54 is aligned with any of the three passages 34, 36 and 38, and therefore these three passages are all closed by valve disk 42. y

The passage 54 terminates at one end in a special valve port 56 in front of which operates the resilient and flexible diaphragm 58. This diaphr-agm is held in place between the ring 60 andlthere are two outstanding needs.

the ring 62. The ring 62 is secured tothe radiator and communicates with the steam and water compartment, and the ring 66 is secured to the ring 62 in any suitable manner, as by the screws 64, and supports the valve structure. The ring 66 and the diaphragm 58 together comprise what may be called the valve head, since they restrain the flow of gas to the channels permitted by the valve disk.

The operation of the diaphragm 56 is conventional when the valve is in the full on position. The natural resiliency of this diaphragm forces it to the position shown in Figure 3. As steam pressure is built up within the radiator the diaphragm 58 is sprung toward the port 56 and at a predetermined steam pressure closes said port. To prevent this from completely extinguishing the burner flame, a by-pass 66 is provided through the side of the port 56. According to the prior practica' which is followed by this invention, when the Valve disk is in the position shown in Figure 5, the restricted supply of gas passing through the by-pass 66 is supplied to the entire burner, with the result that the flames throughout the burner are reduced.

For 'various reasons, chiefly, the desirability of burning less-gas, at certain times, in a radiator, than is practicable if the gas is distributed to all the burner jets, it is desired to modify this arrangement. This is accomplished by the present invention by moving the valve disk to the position shown in Figure 6, in which the entire restricted supply of gas is supplied through the pilot supply pipe 26 to the pilot section of the burner. It will be readily seen that an vamount of gas which would burn extremely low when scattered over the whole burner will give an excellent, constant and safe fiame if confined to the pilot section of the burner. As a matter of fact, it is possible to keep a safe flame with much less gas than is required by the entire burner.

The pilot burner could of course be confined to a single jet, but the position ofthe partition I8 is preferred so-that a small amount of heat will be given whenever the pilot flame is burning. It should be understood that it is the custom to turn the radiator off entirely whenever Athe weather is warm enough so that there is no like-V lihood of heat being desired within a few hours. On the other hand, in fairly'cold'nweather the diaphragm 58 rarely closes the port 56 entirely so that the need of restricting the ow of gas to the pilot section does not arise. It is therefore in the slightly chilly weather that there is conslderable need for a pilot light, and in this slightly chilly weather there is usually a desire for a slight amount of heat as well as'` for a pilot light. The pilot section of this invention answers both of these requirements andthe valve of this invention makes the use of such pilot section practical, satisfactory and safe.

In connection with making the radiator safe, The lfirst is to -cause the Valve to close automatically if the -supply of gas should cease, or if the flame should tion of the burner an inadequateamount of gasY for safe combustion. The valve heretofore described lends itself. to the accomplishment of these two features by the addition of relatively simple and inexpensive devices thereto. Fur-" 2,083,985' thermore, these devices for the most part-serve the positions of Figure 4 or Figure 5, and also for limiting its closing movement to the position shown in Figures 1 is found in collar 14 formed or rigidly secured on the valve block 38. The collar 14 is provided with notches 16 and 18'as well as with a stop 80. The handle 48 is urged by a spring 8i to the position with respect to its shaft shown in Figure 3, in which the .nose 82 of the handle forms 'a latch fitting into the notches 16 and 18. However, the handle` may be tilted to a position which will free it from said notches but preferably not to a position which will free it from the stop 88. It should also be mentioned that in each notch the side against which the spring urges the handle is preferably higher than the other side thereof, so that there willbe no danger of the latch 82 undesirably skipping over a notch. -There may be gradual decline from the pressure-receiving edge of notch 16 to the bottom of notch 18.

With the structure thus far illustrated, it is seen that unless the valve disk 42 is in one of the three positions of-Figures 5, 6 or '1, at which positions the latch 82 rests againstone of the stops, either the notch 16 and notch 1 8, or the stop 80, the spring 10 will cause the valve disk to rotate in a closing direction until the latch 82 reaches the rst stop. Thus it is impossible for the valve to be left in any position other than the positionsshown in Figures 5, 6, 'and '1. In other words, it is impossible for the valve disk to be left in any position inadequately opening any port therein.

The means for causing the valve to close if the flame fails is found in the features just described, together with the trip lever 86 which I is pivoted to the valve block 38 as at 88. This pivoted lever-is 4operated by a Bowden wire 90, or similar device which in turn is operated by a bi-metallic strip 92 located in a position to be heated by the flame of the pilot section whenever the pilot section is llt. 'I'he bi-metallic strip should be heavy enough in 'order to have the requisite strength, and its movement in either direction may, if desired, be opposed by a spring associated with the trip lever 86; The nose 82 of the handle 48 which forms the latch previously described extends slightly beyond the collar 14, as shown best in Figure 3, and when the valve is in either of the open positions this nose extends over the trip lever 88 so that when the trip lever is pivoted it tilts the handle 48, thus releasing the latch 82 from the notch 16 or the notch 18.

In lighting the gas at the burner,.the valve is turned to one of the positions shown in Figures 5 and 6 and held there by hand while applying a flame to the pilot section of the burner, and held enough longer for the llame from this pilot section of the burner to heat the bi-metallic strip 92 suiciently so that it operates the Bowden Wire and thus tilts the trip lever 88 to an inactive position, at which time the spring on the handle 48 will cause it to tilt to a latching position and hold the valve disk either in the position shown in Figure 6 or' the position shown in Figure 6, whichever may be desired. It the pilot light goes out the tendency ol' the bi-metallic strip 92 on cooling to assume its normal position,'oper ates the Bowden wire Land causes a tilting of the trip lever 86 to its active position', thereby releas. ing the latch 82 from thenotches 18' and 18 so that the spring 10 causes the valve to move to the closed position.

It is to be understood that many other embodiments of the invention, including some in imA proved form, will be apparent, and in the course of time more will be devisedby those skilled in the art; It is not desired .that this invention be limited to the details described, tor its scope includes all-such forms or improvements as comev within the spirit of the following claims, conv`gas to a pilot and main burner including a valve body having a gas delivery passage, a supply passage for the pilot and a supply passage for the main burner, a valve ,disc rotatably mounted on the valve body and having openings therein for alignment with the passages to thereby open the same, the' opening associated with the delivery passage tapering in the direction of vits length and terminating in a valve port located to the rear of the valve disc, and said valveport having a bypass whereby the supply passages are connected with the delivery passage through the valve port f when the same is opened and are connected through the by-'pass when said valve port is closed.

2. A disc valve for controlling the supply ofgas to a pilot and main burner including a valve body having a gas delivery passage, a supply passage for thepilot and alsupply passage for the main burner, a valve disc rotatably mounted on the valve body and having openings therein for alignment with the passages to thereby open the same, the opening associated with vthe delivery passage taperingv in the direction of its length and terminating in a valve port located to the rearof the valve disc, said tapering opening permitting a gradual closing of the delivery passage upon turning of said valve disc, and said valve port having a by-pass whereby the supply passages are connected with the delivery passage through the valve port when the same isl opened and are connected through the by-'pass when said valve port is closed.

valve port having a delivery passage, -asupplyA passage for the pilot and a supply passage for-the main burner, a valve disc foe opening and closing said passages, said valve disc having a valve port provided with ahy-pass, and means responsive to steam pressure for regulating the supply of gas to said supply passages when the valve disc is located so as to open said passages, said means comprising a diaphragm adapted to open and close said valve port, whereby said supply passages are connected with the delivery passage through the valve port when the same is open and are connected through the by-pass when said port is closed.

4. A disc type valve for controlling the supply of gas to a pilot and main human-including a valve port having a delivery passage, a supply passage for the pilot and a supply passage for the main burner, a rotatable valve disc having an opening for association with the delivery passage and having another opening for association with the supply passages, arvalve port located to the rear of the valve disc and communieating with the opening for the delivery passage, said valve port being provided with a by-pass for delivering gas to the supply passages when said delivery port is closed, said valve body and valve disc having fiat contacting faces, and resilient means for retaining said contacting faces in engagement. f

5. A disc type valve for controlling the supply of gas to a pilot and main burner, including a valve port having a delivery passage, a supply passage for the pilot and a supply passage for the main burner, a rotatable valve disc having an opening for association with 'the delivery passage and another opening for association with the supply passages, a valve port located to the rear of the valve disc and communicating with the vopening for the delivery passage, said valve port having a by-pass, and means responsive to steam pressure for regulating the supply of gas to said supply passages when the disc is located so as to open said passages comprising a diaphragm adapted to open and close the valve port, whereby said supply passages are connected with the delivery passage through the valve port when the same is open and are connected through the by-pass when the valve port is closed. Y

6. A disc type valve for controlling the supply of gas to a pilot and main burner including a valve body having a gas delivery passage, a supply passage for vthe pilot and a supply passage for the `main burner, a' valve disc rotatably mounted on the Valve body and having a pair of elongated openings therein, one opening having associationl with` thedelivery passage and the other opening having association with the supply passages, wherebysaid valve disc opens and closes said passages upon rotation thereof, the opening associated with the delivery passage tapering in the direction of its length permitting delivery of a `reduced gas supply when the tapered end of the opening is`aligned with the. passage, said valve disc being between full open and closed' positions when located to deliver said reduced gassup'ply, in which position said other opening is located in alignment with the pilot passage only, the supply passage to the main burner being completely closed.

7. A disc type valve for controlling the supply of gas to a pilot and main burner including a valve body having a gas delivery passage, a supply passage for the pilot and a supply passage for the main burner, a valve .disc rotatably mounted on the valve body and having a pair of elongated openings therein, one openingy having association with the delivery passage and the other opening having association with the supply passages, whereby said valve disc opens and closes said passages upon rotation thereof, the opening associated with the delivery passage tapering in .the direction of its length permitting delivery of a reduced gas supply when.the tapered end of the opening is aligned with the passage, and means biasing said valve disc into a position where all the passages are closed.

4 8. A disc type valve for controlling the supply o gas to` a pilt andv main burner including a valve body having a gas delivery passage, a supply passage'for the pilot and a supply passage for the main burner, a valve disc rotatably mounted on' the valve body and having a pair of elongated openings therein, one opening having association with the delivery passage and the other openinghaving association with the supply passages, whereby said valve disc opens and closes said passages upon rotation thereof, the opening associated with the delivery passage Atapering in the direction of its length permitting delivery of a reduced gas supply when the tapered end of the opening is aligned with the passage, resilient means biasing said valve disc into a position where all the passages are closed, and a latch for retaining the disc in full open position and in an intermediate position wherein said valve delivers a reduced gas supply.

JOHN A. BYERS. GLEN C. CARNAHAN. 

